El Paso Locals Discover Hidden Desert Walks Tourists Miss

El Paso trail counters recorded 1,240 daily users on two unmarked arroyos in June, a 28 percent jump from the same month last year.

The increase coincides with city health data showing more residents seeking shade and elevation changes to manage summer heat while maintaining outdoor routines. El Paso Parks and Recreation reported that popular overlooks now draw tour buses, pushing locals toward routes that stay off maps distributed at visitor centers.

One route begins at the unpaved pullout on Alabama Street just past the McKelligon Canyon entrance and follows a dry creek bed for 1.8 miles into the foothills. Another starts behind the Chamizal National Memorial parking lot and traces the riverbank west for nearly three miles before rejoining paved paths near the Zaragoza International Bridge. Both remain free and require no permits.

Trail conditions and local programs

The El Paso Hiking Club maintains a volunteer crew that clears brush on the Alabama Street arroyo every third Saturday. Participants meet at 7 a.m. at the corner of Alabama and Ridgecrest for water and group safety briefings. The city’s Parks Department lists these walks in its quarterly newsletter under “resident routes,” noting they avoid the $5 daily parking fee charged at the main Franklin Mountains visitor lot.

A 2025 Metropolitan Planning Organization survey found 62 percent of El Paso adults walk or hike at least twice weekly, with 41 percent naming these two corridors as their primary spots. Average group size stays under four people, and most finish before 9 a.m. to avoid midday heat that reached 102 degrees on July 3.

Practical steps for first visits

Locals recommend starting at sunrise, carrying two liters of water, and downloading offline maps from the city’s open-data portal. The Chamizal river section has no restrooms after the first half mile, while the Alabama arroyo crosses one rocky wash that can hold water after storms. Those new to the routes can join the Hiking Club’s monthly orientation walks, which cost nothing and supply printed turn-by-turn directions.